Petition challenging MP Nilesh Lanke's election rejcted

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Justice Kishor C Sant of the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court dismissed the petition challenging the election of Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, the MP from Ahilyanagar South Lok Sabha constituency.

The court accepted an application filed by respondent Lanke under Order 7, Rule 11, and dismissed the petition of Dr Sujay Vikhe-Patil.

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What was petition about?

In the petition, it was alleged that Lanke had used corrupt practices during the election, made false statements about the personal character of the Vikhe-Patil family during campaigning, exceeded the prescribed election expenditure limit of Rs 95 lakh, indulged in bogus voting, and that there were irregularities in EVM verification. On these grounds, the petitioner sought cancellation of Lanke's election.

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Lanke's Arguments

Lanke contested the petition, arguing that it lacked concrete grounds, sufficient details of corrupt practices and had not been filed within the prescribed time limit. After hearing both sides, the court upheld Lanke's contentions, noting a lack of clear evidence of corrupt practices and necessary documentation, and dismissed the petition.

Lanke was represented by advocates Pramod Patil, Rahul Temak and Shamsundar Solunke, while advocates S V Kanetkar, A V Hon, A S Kanetkar, A R Purohit, A A Randhir, A Pardhe and Shubham Kote appeared for Dr Sujay.